The next day, while it was still completely dark outside, Lin Wu was roused by the call announcing the dawn.
She opened her sleepy eyes to the dim room and guessed that it was only the fifth watch. Every day at the fifth watch, the monk responsible for announcing the dawn would begin striking an iron plaque and making his rounds through the streets.
Once the fifth watch arrived, the city gates would open and the drawbridges be lowered. Those waiting outside the gates to enter the city and conduct business would begin lining up, while merchants within the city gradually lit their cooking fires. As the sky brightened, the city awakened with it.
Lin Wu turned onto her side and vaguely saw Lin Jing curled up beside her, his small face pressed against her arm as he slept soundly. Relieved that he had not been woken, she closed her eyes again. The fifth watch was still far from daylight—equivalent to around three in the morning by modern reckoning.
It was not until a faint light filtered through the window lattice that Lin Wu finally got up.
She dressed as quietly as she could, then went downstairs to buy half a bucket of hot water from the inn attendant. Outside the inn, the intermittent cries of carriers drifted over the street. They were peddling wash water from house to house—in other words, hot water. Some eateries that opened early also supplied it, and continued selling it until dawn. As long as one had money to spare, life in the city was quite convenient.
But they were hardly well-off. As Lin Wu wiped her face with the warm water, she silently calculated their expenses. There would be plenty of places to spend money in the future, so they had to save wherever they could.
“Shall we have suobing again this morning?” Lin Wu asked Lin Jing.
They still had some of the dry provisions they had prepared for the boat. But the boat had docked more often than she had expected, and it was inconvenient to heat and cook food aboard. Besides, several days of traveling by boat had left them tired. Whenever they could go ashore, she always took Lin Jing with her to eat.
“All right!” Lin Jing rinsed his mouth by himself, then took the piece of cloth she handed him to wipe his face. The moment he heard they were having suobing, his eyes lit up. “A Jing wants to soak it himself.”
Lin Wu had planned to take the noodles to the kitchen to cook, but seeing his eager expression, she could not help smiling and nodded.
She carried the used water to the kitchen to empty it, then detoured to the market and bought a handful of scallions and some cabbage. She could cook them and add them to the suobing, giving them at least some fresh vegetables.
She cooked the vegetables behind the stove. Just as she came out carrying a jar of boiling water, a familiar childish voice rang out from the inn’s entrance.
“Auntie Wang! Tigerhead is here!”
Tigerhead Shen’s booming voice arrived before he did, floating in from outside.
The last bit of Shopkeeper Wang’s early-morning drowsiness vanished at once. She looked toward the door and saw Tigerhead bundled up so tightly that he looked like a rolling ball as he tumbled inside.
Perhaps it was still early. The maid had only just finished tying his hair, and his little topknot was still neat and tidy. He looked nothing like his usual disheveled self.
“Tigerhead, why are you here so early today? Didn’t you sleep in?” Shopkeeper Wang asked in surprise. “Did your teacher really let you out?”
“My grandfather is back, so I asked for leave.” He rose onto his tiptoes and peered eagerly behind the counter.
“Then what have you come here for? Master Shen isn’t here,” Shopkeeper Wang teased him. “Don’t tell me you sneaked out.”
“I did not! Brother Zheng is right outside!” Tigerhead straightened his little back and protested in a loud voice. “I came to play with A Jing.”
“Who is A Jing?” Shopkeeper Wang asked, even more puzzled.
“A Jing is A Jing! Auntie Wang, he clearly lives here, so how can you not know? That’s not very friendly of you!” Tigerhead began to shout.
Lin Wu had listened for a while, but when it became clear that he would never explain himself properly, she walked over with a smile.
“Tigerhead,” she called.
Tigerhead turned at the sound of her voice, his eyes lighting up. He scampered over to her. “Sister, you’re here!”
“Why did you come so early? Have you eaten breakfast?” Lin Wu asked gently.
“I have! I told my grandfather I wanted to come, and he said I could.” He pointed toward the door. Little Zheng was hurrying in behind him. “See? Brother Zheng came with me.”
“I see. Didn’t Sparrow come with you?” Lin Wu asked.
“My second sister is still sleeping in!” Tigerhead declared proudly, puffing out his little chest. “Tigerhead is the most diligent!”
“Yes, yes, Tigerhead is very impressive.” Lin Wu smiled and played along. “A Jing is still in the room. We’re just about to eat breakfast, so you’ll have to wait a little.”
“That’s all right. I can wait!” Tigerhead immediately replied, then asked hopefully, “Where is A Jing? I’ll go wait for him!”
“He’s right this way.” Lin Wu led him toward the guest room, then glanced back at Little Zheng. “Would you like to come in too?”
Little Zheng hurriedly waved his hands. “No, no, I’ll wait here.”
Lin Wu then took Tigerhead to the guest room.
Lin Jing had been leaning against the windowsill, watching the birds. At the sound of their footsteps, he turned around and saw the round Tigerhead following closely behind Lin Wu.
“Tigerhead.” His voice was calm—not so much a greeting as a simple statement of fact.
“That’s me! I came to play with you!” Tigerhead squeezed up beside him with great familiarity. “What were you looking at?”
“A little bird. Something startled it just now, and it flew away.” Lin Jing walked over to the table and helped Lin Wu lay out the bowls and chopsticks.
Tigerhead followed him to the table and sat down without the slightest trace of reserve. “What are you eating? I had five-flavor porridge, crystal buns, flaky pastries, and pickled eggplant this morning.”
“Oh, right!” He suddenly remembered something and slapped a hand against the table. “I brought you some cherry preserve!”
Before he had even finished speaking, he dashed outside.
A moment later, he came thundering back, carrying an exquisite little celadon jar in both hands. He placed it carefully on the table.
“This is delicious—sweet, too. But my mother won’t let me eat much, because she says it’s bad for my teeth.” As he spoke, he lifted the porcelain lid.
Inside were cherries cooked through in honey, each one plump and amber-colored, gleaming with a moist sheen.
Tigerhead pushed the jar toward them and blinked expectantly. “Try some. They’re really sweet.”
Smiling, Lin Wu fetched a small bowl and used her chopsticks to place several cherries inside. She gave one each to Lin Jing and Tigerhead first and said warmly, “Thank you, Tigerhead.”
Tigerhead stuffed the cherry into his mouth and mumbled through his puffed-out cheeks, “You’re welcome, you’re welcome.”
Lin Jing looked at Lin Wu, then at Tigerhead. Only then did he pick up the cherry preserve with his chopsticks and place it in his mouth. It tasted sweet and syrupy, much like the kind he had eaten before.
Tigerhead watched him eagerly. “Is it good? Is it good?”
Lin Jing chewed and swallowed slowly before giving a slight nod. “It’s good.”
“Hehe!” Tigerhead shook his head smugly. “I knew you’d like it!”
“All right, now that we’ve had our treat, it’s time for breakfast.” Lin Wu took out the dry suobing cakes, dried vegetables, meat sauce, and several seasonings, arranging them one by one on the table. “Tigerhead, would you like to have some more?”
Lin Jing stared unblinkingly at the ingredients, his little hand already creeping toward his bowl.
“Is this suobing?” Tigerhead leaned closer for a look.
“Yes.” Lin Wu turned to Lin Jing. “Next, it’s time for our A Jing to show us what he can do.”
At that, the expression on Lin Jing’s small face grew even more serious.
First, he put a piece of dry suobing into his bowl. Then he added dried vegetables, a small spoonful of meat sauce, and finally a little light soy sauce and chopped scallions.
He moved with calm familiarity. Tigerhead’s eyes went wide as he watched. The food usually brought to him was already prepared; he had never seen anyone put together a meal this way.
Once Lin Jing had arranged everything, Lin Wu lifted the earthenware pot and slowly poured boiling water into the bowl.
“There. It’ll be ready after it sits for a little while.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Jing covered the bowl with its lid.
“Why do we have to wait?” Tigerhead slipped off his stool, leaned over the table, and brought his nose almost to the rim of the bowl.
“We’re waiting for the suo cakes to soak through,” Lin Jing explained patiently, watching the bowl with him. “They’ll slowly soften as they absorb the water, and then they’ll become soup-soaked suo cakes.”
“Really? They’ll change just by waiting?” Tigerhead dragged his stool over and sat beside Lin Jing. He folded both arms on the table and rested his little chin on the backs of his hands, looking ready to stand guard for as long as necessary. “When will they be ready? Have they changed yet?”
“We have to wait a little longer,” Lin Jing answered softly, his eyes fixed on the bowl as well. He sat upright, though his body had unconsciously tilted slightly forward.
For a while, the room was filled with Tigerhead’s endless stream of questions. Lin Jing answered him every now and then, and together they waited for the suo cakes to soften.
When Lin Wu judged that enough time had passed, she gently lifted the lid. A burst of hot steam rose up, rich with the fragrance of sauce and scallions. The pieces of cake that had been firm and hard were now completely loosened, having soaked up the broth and turned into a soft, plump bowl of soup-soaked suo cakes. She added several slices of cooked greens on top, making the dish look even fresher and more appetizing.
Tigerhead’s eyes immediately grew round. “Wow! Jing, you really know how to make suo cakes!”
“They’re soaked suo cakes,” Lin Jing corrected him seriously.
“Would Tigerhead like to try making some too?” Lin Wu asked with a smile.
“That’s wonderful! I want to try, I want to try! Thank you, Sister!” Tigerhead was so delighted that he nearly jumped off his stool. He quickly steadied himself and gazed eagerly at Lin Wu as she brought out another portion of ingredients.
Before long, the three of them sat together and began breakfast.
Tigerhead blew on his food with loud huffs. As he ate, he shouted indistinctly, “These are the best suo cakes in the whole world! I, Tigerhead, can make suo cakes now!”
Lin Jing had been eating in small, careful bites. At that, he paused, swallowed the food in his mouth, and turned to look at Tigerhead.
“You made soaked suo cakes. My mother made the suo cakes.”
Tigerhead nodded readily. “Then I can make soaked suo cakes!”
After they finished breakfast, not a drop of broth remained in their bowls. Outside the window, the sun had climbed higher, flooding the room with bright light.
Tigerhead rubbed his round, full belly in satisfaction. Then he turned and saw Lin Jing carefully gathering the bowls and chopsticks he had used and setting them to one side. He imitated him and pushed his own bowl over.
“Jing, what are we going to do next?”
Lin Jing did not answer at once. Instead, he looked up at Lin Wu, who was gathering the rest of their belongings.
“A Jing and Tigerhead can play in the room while I go wash the bowls and chopsticks,” Lin Wu said, wiping her hands.
But Lin Jing picked up his little wooden bowl and shook his head. “I’ll wash mine myself.”
Seeing this, Tigerhead hurriedly grabbed his own bowl. “I’ll wash mine myself too!”
“All right. Then we’ll go to the kitchen together.”
After washing the bowls and chopsticks and putting everything away, Lin Wu turned to the two boys.
“I’m thinking of looking at some houses today. If we find one that suits us, we’ll rent it. It’ll be more convenient for us to live here from now on.”
Before Lin Jing could say anything, Tigerhead immediately began nodding.
“Wonderful! I know the streets and alleys of Huzhou Prefecture like the back of my hand! I know where all the lively places are!”
Lin Wu smiled and nodded at him. “Then I’ll have to trouble Tigerhead to show us around.”
Lin Jing cast a doubtful glance at Tigerhead. A-Wu had said yesterday that she wanted to find somewhere quiet. Could anything Tigerhead recommended possibly be quiet? Then again, with Tigerhead around, nowhere would stay quiet for long.
At that thought, he gave a soft sigh.
Lin Wu packed up the bundle she was carrying and led the two boys out of the room.
Tigerhead had already run ahead. He called out to Little Zheng, “Brother Zheng, we’re going to rent a house!”
Little Zheng hurried over to them. “Sister-in-law, are we going to the property brokers?”
Lin Wu nodded. “That’s right. We’ve only just arrived, so we know nothing about rental prices in the city. I truly have no idea what to expect. Do you happen to know anything about them?”
Little Zheng thought for a moment, then began explaining. “If convenience is what you’re after, then somewhere along the main street would naturally be best. But the rent is quite steep. I’ve heard that even a decent little courtyard house costs more than two strings of cash a month.”
“That expensive?” Lin Wu was startled. Even if she and Lin Jing spent nothing on food or other necessities, the money they had would only last them eight months of rent.
“Compared with the capital, that’s considered quite reasonable,” Little Zheng explained. And that was indeed the case. Although Huzhou Prefecture was prosperous, its rents were still nothing compared with those in the capital. In the capital, an ordinary official renting a respectable residence would easily pay five strings of cash a month or more. Even a shabby place on the outskirts cost three or four strings. As for a large residence in a prime location, the daily rent alone could reach two strings.
“We don’t have to rent on the main street. Let’s rent somewhere in the north of the city! It’s close to my home, and then I can come play with Jing whenever I want!” Tigerhead tugged at Lin Wu’s sleeve and tipped his head back to make the suggestion.
Little Zheng, however, shook his head with a laugh. “The area north of the city, near Qixiu Mountain, has beautiful scenery, and most of the people living there are well-to-do families. But there are hardly any smaller houses for rent. Even when one does become available, it’s usually a large estate or private residence. The rent would likely be even higher than on the main street.”
The northern part of the city was nestled between mountains and water, with excellent feng shui. It was also not far from the docks, so many wealthy households and great merchants had purchased residences there. The plots were spacious and the population sparse, and the houses were all built behind high walls and grand gates—far beyond the reach of ordinary families.
“Oh?” Tigerhead’s little face immediately fell.
Shopkeeper Wang, who had been listening from behind the counter, smiled and joined in. “Mrs. Lin wants to rent a house? Then you should find a reliable housing broker and ask about the market.”
Lin Wu turned to her with a somewhat helpless smile. “Thank you for the advice, Shopkeeper. I’ve only just arrived. I don’t know the rental prices in Huzhou Prefecture, let alone where to find a trustworthy broker.”
Shopkeeper Wang was straightforward by nature and spoke plainly. “If you trust me, you could go to Broker He. She’s been in this business for many years and is officially registered with the authorities. She’s fair, doesn’t overcharge, and has always had an excellent reputation.”
“That’s wonderful. You’ve given me exactly the direction I needed. Of course I trust you.” Lin Wu quickly thanked her. Proper inns often had a custom of introducing reliable brokers to their guests. If anything went wrong, the inn might even be punished for it.
“As it happens, I know Broker He,” Little Zheng interjected. “I can take you there.”
“Then I’ll trouble you, Brother Zheng.”
“Let’s go, let’s go!” Tigerhead immediately perked up. He waved one little hand, then familiarly took hold of Lin Jing’s hand with the other and started toward the door.
Lin Wu hurriedly caught hold of both him and Lin Jing. “There are lots of people in the streets. Watch where you’re going, and don’t run off.”
“Don’t run off,” Lin Jing added, lifting his little face and staring sternly at Tigerhead.
“All right, all right. Tigerhead won’t run off.” Tigerhead immediately stood up straight and behaved himself.
Following Little Zheng, the group crossed several streets and alleys before arriving at the property brokers’ office.
Broker He was a woman of around fifty, with her hair neatly coiled into a bun. She wore a brown long vest.
After hearing what they had come for, she took out a thick ledger. As she flipped through it, she glanced up and asked pleasantly, “May I ask, madam, whether you have a general budget in mind? How many people will be living in the household? Do you have any requirements regarding the location or appearance of the house?”
Lin Wu pondered for a moment before replying, “Most important is that it be safe and quiet. There will only be my son and me. I hope the neighbors will all be decent, easygoing people, and that the doors and gates are secure at night. It would be even better if the house were near a well or a running ditch, so washing and other daily chores would be convenient. As for the price…”
She paused before continuing, “To be honest, madam, my son and I have only just come to Huzhou to make a living, so we must be careful with our spending. We only ask for a quiet, reliable place to live.”
Broker He began murmuring to herself, “Quiet and reliable, decent neighbors, close to water… Mrs. Lin, your requirements are not exactly modest.”
“I’ll have to trouble you to give it some thought.”
“There are a few places you could look at.” As she spoke, Broker He pulled several old sheets of paper from the ledger. “One is in Clear Water Alley in the eastern part of the city. It’s a private little courtyard with tiled-roof rooms: one main room, one side room, and a small additional room that could be used as a kitchen. There’s a public well at the end of the alley. Most of the neighbors are long-established residents, and the households are small. The rent is one string and two hundred cash a month.”
“That does sound suitable.” Lin Wu frowned slightly. “But the rent… is truly rather high.”
It would cost one string and two hundred cash a month—forty cash a day. If she relied on making and selling pastries for a living, producing a hundred in a day would already be the most she could manage. She would still have to set aside time to take them out for sale, and after deducting the cost of ingredients and taxes, she had no idea how much would remain.
“Then there’s this place.” Broker He drew out another sheet. “It’s also in the eastern part of the city, not far from Clear Water Alley. It’s a tiled-roof house with three rooms arranged around a small courtyard. One room is available for rent, though you would share the courtyard with the owners. There’s a small well in the yard, so fetching water would be convenient. The owners are an elderly couple. Their son travels around doing small business, so it’s peaceful enough. The rent is only four hundred cash a month.”
Sharing a courtyard with someone else…
Lin Wu began calculating in her mind. It was certainly cheaper, but coming and going would inevitably be less convenient. And from the sound of it, there was no separate kitchen. If she wanted to knead dough and make pastries in the future, that would likely prove troublesome.
“Madam, are there any other places to choose from?”
“The last one is behind the market in the western part of the city. It’s a single room partitioned off from a warehouse, but it’s quite clean. The location is convenient—just a few steps outside and you’re at the market, where buying vegetables and grain would be easy. The rent is five hundred cash a month.”
“That doesn’t sound very quiet.” Lin Wu shook her head. Being near the market meant there would be noise from morning till night.
“You’re right,” Broker He admitted frankly. “That area is indeed lively during the day. But when it comes to renting a house in Huzhou Prefecture at this price, it’s difficult to find one that meets every requirement. Some compromises are always necessary.”
Lin Wu considered the matter for a moment. Each of the three places had its own advantages and drawbacks, so she said, “Could you trouble yourself to take us and let us see them in person?”
“Certainly.” Broker He briskly closed the ledger. “Let’s go.”
When Tigerhead heard that they were truly going to look at houses, he grew excited again and tugged at Lin Jing’s hand.
Lin Jing was pulled so unsteadily that he nearly lost his balance. “Don’t run around,” he said.
The group first went to the western part of the city. The single room partitioned off from the warehouse was conveniently located, but even inside they could hear the faint cries of vendors. It was also close to the wharf. Besides being noisy, the area was crowded with all sorts of people, which might invite unnecessary trouble. In the end, it was neither quiet nor secure enough.
Next they went to the eastern part of the city. The single room in the small courtyard was spacious, and the well was nearby, but a stove would have to be built separately beneath the eaves. Having only one room was also unsuitable.
“Since we’re already in the eastern part of the city, the private courtyard isn’t far away,” Broker He suggested. “Would you like to take a look while we’re here?”
Lin Wu thought it over and found the suggestion reasonable. “Very well. I’ll trouble you to show us the way.”
The alley where the private courtyard stood was indeed quiet. The walls on either side were a dull gray, with the occasional vine or piece of laundry poking over the tops. Broker He took out a key and opened a small black-lacquered gate.
Beyond it lay a narrow, elongated courtyard paved with gravel. Three old tiled-roof rooms stood directly ahead. The window paper had yellowed with age, but it was still pasted up fairly well.
Lin Wu led Lin Jing inside. It was nearly noon, and the sunlight slanted into half of the room, making it reasonably bright.
“What do you think, A Jing?” Lin Wu asked, looking down at him.
Lin Jing raised his head and studied the rafters, then looked around the courtyard. In a small voice, he said, “The courtyard is a little too long.”
That was true. The courtyard was narrow and awkwardly shaped.
Tigerhead, meanwhile, ran back and forth inside. He poked his head out from the side room and called, “Jing, this room is so dark!”
Apart from the main room, the other two rooms received far less light.
Broker He smiled. “The courtyard is a bit narrow, but at least it’s private. Once you close the gate, you can live as you please. The tiled roof is sturdy too, and at this price, a place like this is hard to come by.”
Lin Wu weighed the matter in her heart. She was not particularly satisfied with any of these places, and this private courtyard was also beyond what she had intended to spend. Finding a suitable house really was difficult.
Seeing her hesitation, Broker He thought for a moment, then lowered her voice. “There is one more place, actually, at the other end of this alley. To be honest, both the location and the house itself are excellent. The prefectural school is only half an hour’s walk to the north, and the house used to be rented exclusively to students from out of town. But strangely enough, every student who rented it failed the examinations. After it happened several times, people began saying that the house was bad for one’s scholarly fortune. It has now been vacant for nearly half a year.”
Those willing to spend money on a rental in the city were generally either students preparing for the examinations or traveling merchants, and most of them cared at least somewhat about luck and auspicious omens.
She paused, then continued, “It’s another private courtyard, with one main room, one kitchen, and a small side room that could be used for sleeping or storage. The courtyard is square, and the rooms are spacious, bright, and well ventilated. The desk, bed, and chest cabinets left behind by the previous tenant are all still sturdy and usable. Best of all, there’s a well in the courtyard. In the past, the rent was no less than one string and seven hundred cash a month.”
“And what is it now?” Lin Wu asked, her expression unchanged despite the stir in her heart.
Broker He held up two fingers. “If you can pay six months in full, the owner will accept one string and two hundred cash.”
Lin Wu sensed that there might still be room for negotiation. In any case, neither she nor Lin Jing had any chance of taking the examinations in this lifetime. Whether they passed or failed had nothing to do with them.
“The house does sound as though it has poor scholarly fortune,” Lin Wu said in an ordinary tone, nodding at Broker He. “But since we’ve come this far, please take us to see it as well.”
The group continued deeper into the alley. This courtyard lay at the far end, in the opposite direction from the well, and the farther they went, the quieter it became. After less than fifteen minutes, the view suddenly opened up before them.
A low wall covered in withered vines enclosed a neat, square courtyard. The entrance was an ordinary wooden door, its paint half worn away, but it was shut securely. All around them was silent save for the rustling of leaves in the wind.
Broker He took out her key and opened the gate.
The courtyard was indeed perfectly square. Its ground was paved with gravel, and because it had gone untended for so long, dry, unruly weeds had sprouted between the stones, giving the place a slightly desolate air and making it seem even more secluded.
Only after looking closely did they notice that behind the weeds stood a stone well, covered by a thick wooden lid overgrown with moss.
Tigerhead let out a loud “Wow!” and ran all around the courtyard before hurrying over to peer into the well. “There’s a well! Jing, this courtyard is great!”
Little Zheng hurriedly grabbed him and pulled him back several steps. “My little ancestor, the ground by the well is slippery. You mustn’t get so close.”
Lin Jing also patted him on the shoulder and said in a low voice, “Don’t make so much noise. My mother is looking at the house.”
The courtyard was not large. After walking a dozen or so steps, they reached the main room. It was spacious too. When the door was pushed open, sunlight streamed inside, filling the room with brightness. In the shifting light, a thin layer of dust could be seen covering the table.
Broker He continued with her introduction. “The owner is an old scholar who later took up commerce. This courtyard was where he lived when he was studying in his younger years. Because it was so far from the public well, he even had someone dig one here. He cherished the place dearly. After those rumors began circulating, he was furious, but there was nothing he could do about them, and so he stopped bothering to maintain the property.”
Lin Wu carefully examined the beams, pillars, rafters, and corners, then reached out and touched the walls. Although the place had gone without care for quite some time, it was clear that solid materials had been used in its construction. It was not yet run-down, though if it remained vacant for several more years, that might well change.
She then went to look at the kitchen on the west side. Though the room was small, the stove had been built remarkably sturdily. In the corner stood a large earthenware water jar nearly as tall as a person.
The small side room on the east was somewhat narrow at the door, but it had a little window as well. Inside, it was completely empty.
“Just look, Mrs. Lin,” Broker He said, following at her side. “If this house didn’t have such a reputation, how could it possibly be offered at this price? One string and two hundred copper coins. An independent tiled house with its own courtyard and a ready-made well in the eastern part of the city—if word got out, no one would believe it.”
Lin Wu examined every part of the property carefully. She had already reached a decision. There was nothing wrong with the courtyard itself. It was quiet, orderly, and even better than she had expected.
Yet she furrowed her brows slightly, as though she were still concerned. “The courtyard is square and the house is solid. It’s only that those rumors are rather unsettling. After all, this is a place where we would live for a long time, and the children will need to begin their studies here as well…”
Broker He immediately took up the thread. “Mrs. Lin, you’re a sensible woman. Those who failed the examinations perhaps simply weren’t learned enough. How could they blame the house? If you truly wish to rent it, this old woman might still be able to negotiate a little with the owner. If you paid for six months at once, perhaps he could lower the price a bit more. It would make for a good omen and help dispel that baseless rumor.”
Lin Wu was silent for a moment before reluctantly nodding. She looked at Broker He. “Then I’ll trouble you, Madam, to do your utmost to negotiate with him. If the price is reasonable, we can settle the matter today.”
With the matter temporarily concluded, they left the small courtyard and headed back toward the inn.
On the way back, Tigerhead was clearly still thinking about what he had heard. He hopped over to Lin Jing’s side. “Jing, Jing, did you hear that? Broker He said that everyone who lived in that house ended up failing the imperial examinations! Aren’t you afraid?”
“I’m not afraid at all,” Lin Jing replied, turning up his nose without even looking back.
Then, as though he had suddenly thought of something, he turned to Tigerhead and added slowly, “You went into that house today too. You probably won’t pass the examinations either.”
“So what?” Tigerhead tossed his head carelessly. “No one in my family is taking the imperial examinations anyway!” He shouted the words proudly, as though he had just announced something tremendously important.
“Then can I go there to play with you from now on?”
“It hasn’t been settled yet,” Lin Wu said gently from behind them.
Tigerhead did not slow down. Each step he took was bigger than the last. “I wonder who the owner is. He must have heard of my great name in Huzhou Prefecture, right? Maybe if I give him my name, he’ll give us a cheaper price.”
Lin Wu could not help smiling. This little fellow had clearly absorbed the habits of a merchant family. At such a young age, he already knew how to invoke a grand name for effect and use his connections—or pretend to have them—to bargain.
Lin Jing blinked and looked at Tigerhead. In his usual calm, even tone, he said, “Broker He didn’t even know who you were just now, let alone the owner of the house.”
Tigerhead froze. Then he raised his chin and shouted, “That’s because she hasn’t seen enough of the world! Do you think just anyone can know the great Tigerhead Shen?”
Lin Jing neither contradicted him nor agreed. He merely nodded his little head slowly. “Mm. Then she doesn’t know you.”
Tigerhead was rendered speechless by Lin Jing’s utterly unyielding attitude. He simply moved closer and lightly bumped Lin Jing’s shoulder with his own. “Jing, why do you always undermine me?”
The impact made Lin Jing sway slightly, but he kept his gaze fixed straight ahead and deliberately refused to look at Tigerhead. He merely gave two smug little snorts.
Walking behind them, Lin Wu watched as the two children exchanged one remark after another. One was forever hopping about in agitation, while the other kept his small face composed and tried to maintain his dignity. One pushed the other, the other brushed against him in return, and together they made their crooked, lopsided way down the road.
Lin Wu could not help shaking her head and laughing softly.
As for housing rents, A Study of Prices in the Song Dynasty notes that rents in Kaifeng were extremely high. A simple residence in the outskirts cost four strings of cash per month, while the monthly rent for the homes of mid-ranking officials in Kaifeng was generally around five strings.
In local prefectures and counties, housing rents were comparatively lower. One prefect had built houses to rent out in order to supplement the funds of the prefectural school; each room brought in 206 copper coins per month. In Huizhou, Guangdong, soldiers who lived in rented rooms among the local populace paid between 150 and 300 copper coins per month.
Since the story is set in the relatively prosperous city of Huzhou, housing rents are correspondingly somewhat higher than those in ordinary local prefectures and counties.
